Hiiraan Online

DECLARATION OF THE 13^th  EXTRA-ORDINARY SESSION
^{OF THE IGAD ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT}

NAIROBI, KENYA, OCTOBER 29TH, 2008

Honorable Germain Niyoyankana, Minister of National Defence and Former Combatants, Republic of Burundi participated at the Meeting in Burundi’s capacity as troop contributing country to AMISOM.

The Assembly was preceded by the 29th Extraordinary Meeting of the IGAD Council of Ministers, held in Nairobi on 28th October 2008. The Assembly was briefed by H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Ahmedou Ould Abdellah, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Somalia, and Senator Mario Rafaelli, Italian Government Special Envoy for Somalia, representing the Chair of IGAD Partners Forum (IPF).

The Assembly also held intensive consultations with the Leadership of the Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs) and Members of the Transitional Federal Parliament (TFP) of Somalia.

After deliberating at length on the prevailing political and security situation in Somalia, the Assembly adopted and issued the following Declaration.

We the Members of the IGAD Assembly,

Take note of the statements made by the representative of the African Union, the United Nations, and the IPF.

Take note also of the remarks and submissions made by the Leaderships of the TFIs and Members of the TFP of Somalia.

Express profound concern regarding the political paralysis in Somalia contributing to the continuing deterioration of the security situation in the country as well as to the near hopelessness of the existing situation with respect to achieving the objectives of the transition period as evidenced in the complete failure to establish institutions of governance only nine months before the end of the transitional period.

Regret the lack of unity and unhelpful competition among the leadership of the TFIs as their working at cross-purposes has been the principal factor that has allowed the deterioration of the security situation in the country, and led to lack of progress in the national reconciliation effort.

Call upon the international community to support the strengthening of the TFIs through capacity building and provision of technical assistance.

Call further on the international community to provide the urgently needed humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of thousands of the displaced Somali population.

Note that delays and prevarications of the international community in its response to repeated calls and appeals by IGAD, the African Union, and the United Nations to strengthen and provide the necessary support to AMISOM had a direct consequence and impact on the political as well as security developments in Somalia.

Note further the increased incidents of piracy along the Somali coastline and welcomes the United Nations Security Council resolutions 1816 and 1838 authorizing the use of force to combat the vice.

Commend the Governments of Uganda and Burundi for contributing troops to AMISOM and the Government of Ethiopia for deploying its troops to Somalia under bilateral arrangement with the TFG, and salutes the AMISOM and Ethiopia troops for their commitment to fulfill their tasks under difficult conditions

Welcome the agreement signed in Djibouti on the 26th October 2008 between the TFG and the Alliance for the Re-liberation of Somalia (ARS) on the Implementation of cessation of armed confrontation.

Welcome further the agreement on the formation of a unity government of Somalia based on the principle of 4.5, and an inclusive Parliament.

12. Urge the TFG and the ARS to implement fully and in good faith the Agreement reached in Djibouti on 26th October 2008 and call upon the Members of TFP to endorse the same without any delay.

13. Decide that the TFIs shall implement the following as per the following timelines:

Appoint a Cabinet on the basis of the previous resolution of Parliament of 11 October 2008, within 15 days of the issuance of this Declaration.
Establish a Joint Security Committee (JSC) and its sub-committees as stipulated in the Djibouti Agreement that shall be operational effective 10 November 2008 but not later than 25 November 2008.
Establish the Banadir administration as stipulated in the Addis Ababa Roadmap within 15 days of issuance of this Declaration.
Finalize the drafting of the Somali Constitution, enact electoral and parties law within 6 months of the issuance of this Declaration.
The issue of the extension of the transitional period   might be considered in accordance with the provisions of the Transitional Federal Charter (TFC) on the basis of the progress made on the ground.
Submit progress reports of the implementation (of the above decisions) every 2 months to the IGAD Council of Ministers meeting, which shall review the progress made.
IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government to meet every 6 months to review the progress made in the implementation of these decisions.

14. Decide to establish mechanism headed by a Facilitator to help monitor the implementation of the above decisions and report to the IGAD Council of Ministers and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government on the progress made.

15. Decide also that there must be a coordination mechanism among the IGAD states in the area of institutional and capacity building.

16. Decide further that the anchor of all the efforts in relation to Somalia must be IGAD.

17. Reiterate that in default of the above, the IGAD Assembly shall meet and review its options, as it will not be business as usual.

18. Urge the United Nations to take expeditious measures to fulfill its share of responsibilities as stipulated in the Djibouti Agreement signed on 19th August, 2008 and its modalities of Implementation as agreed upon by the parties, in particular the request to cover the financial needs of the 10,000 strong police force starting from 5th November 2008.

19. Recommend to the Parties and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Somalia to be flexible in terms of modalities and timelines of implementation of the Djibouti Agreement(s) by the parties.

20. Thank the government and the people of Kenya for hosting the Extraordinary Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

21. Decide to remain seized of the matter.

Done at Nairobi Kenya, on 29th day of October in the year 2008

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H.E Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Current Chairman of IGAD

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H.E. Ismael Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti,

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H.E. Mwai Kibaki. President of the Republic of Kenya

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H.E. Abdullahi Yusuf, President of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) of Somalia

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H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, 1st Vice President of the Republic of Sudan

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H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda